Single-use container with dispensing spout

ABSTRACT

A single-use or one-way dispensing container is made of one piece of plastic material. The container is designed to be completely collapsed to facilitate dispensing of the contents and yet even in its partially or wholly collapsed state, the bottom remains flat so as to support the container continuously in an upright position. The spout of the container preferably is made with an integral cap portion connected to a spout portion by a web and designed so that the web can be severed to enable the cap portion to serve as a removable cap on the spout.

United States Patent 3,367,380 2/ 1968 Dickey 222/107 X 1,293,860 2/1919Mock 222/92 3,269,575 8/1966 Hammes 215/41 3,306,483 2/1967 Bellafiorefl215/99 3,319,684 5/1967 Calhoun 150/8 3,354,924 1 H1967 Birrell et al.ISO/.5 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,356,549 2/1964 France 222/107 PrimaryExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. HandrenAtt0rney-Allen D. Gutchess, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A single-use or one-way dispensing container is made of onepiece of plastic material. The container is designed to be completelycollapsed to facilitate dispensing of the contents and yet even in itspartially or wholly collapsed state, the bottom remains flat so as tosupport the container continuously in an upright position. The spout ofthe container preferably is made with an integral cap portion connectedto a spout portion by a web and designed so that the web can be severedto enable the cap portion to serve as a removable cap on the spout.

PATENTED JUL27 I971 SHEET 1 [IF 2 FIE-7- INVENTOR: HHBEHTM. EHUSJEAN.

ATT'YE.

PATENTED JUL27 IHYI SHEET 2 [1F 2 llllll. .lllllill TIE-l1- INVENTOR:FuBERTMGRusJEAN.

BY @a 'r 04a.

ATTYE.

SINGLE-USE CONTAINER WITH DISPENSING SPOUT This invention relates to acontainer and specifically to a single-use container of plasticmaterial.

The container according to the invention is designed to be madeinexpensively so as to be practical for a single use, after which it isthrown away. The container can be used with a multiplicity of materialshaving pastelike characteristics, including such diversified materialsas catsup, ointments, lubricants, toothpaste, and emulsions. Heretofore,paste dispensers have often been made of relatively expensive lead-alloytubes. Such tubes have required cardboard protective containers forshipping and storage. Such is not necessary with the instant container.The container is particularly advantageous when used with foods such ascatsup and mustard which are difflcult to dispense from glass or otherrigid containers. Further, while plastic dispensers or containers arenow used for catsup and mustard, they are relatively expensive and aredesigned for repeated use in order to be economical. When these plasticcontainers are refilled from a main source of supply such as a largecatsup bottle, an unsanitary condition results from the residueremaining in the containers. Consequently, the reusable plasticdispenser is or soon will be prohibited from use in commercialestablishments.

The plastic container according to the invention is designed to becollapsed by the consumer so as to easily dispense the contentstherefrom. The container is scoredwith fold lines in a manner such thatit can collapse substantially completely and yet the bottom of thecontainer remains flat and capable of supporting the container in alldegrees of collapse.

The container according to the invention also features an integral spoutconstruction, preferably designed with a spout and cap formed as anintegral one-piece member. A web portion connecting the spout and capportions can be severed to enable the-cap portion to then serve as aremovable cap for the spout. In another form, the integral spout isespecially suited for production by means of an injection moldingoperation.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide animproved single use plastic container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible plasticcontainer which can be collapsed substantially fully, and yet have abottom wallcapable of supporting the container even when collapsed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved containerhaving a spout member consisting of an integral spout portion and capportion which can be severed for use as a removable cap.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container with anintegral spout particularly designed for being produced by aninjection-molding operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof,reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: I i

FIG. I is an overall view in perspective of a single-use containerembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the container in a par tiallycollapsed state;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. I of the container in a fully collapsedstate;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view in elevation of a spout member for thecontainer of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the spout member of FIG. 4, taken alongthe line 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a front view similar to FIG. 4 showing a spout and capproduced by removing a web portion of the spout member;

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view in elevation of the spout and cap ofFIG.6, taken along the line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a front view in elevation of a slightly modified spout member;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a spout and cap made from the spout memberof FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view in perspective of a slightly modified containerembodying the invention, shown in the position in which it is molded;

FIG. I1 is a sectional view through the upper portion of the containerof FIG. 10 when filled and closed; and

FIG. 12 is an overall view in perspective of a slightly modified,single-use container embodying the invention and particularly adaptedfor production by injection molding.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. I3, asingle-use plastic container embodying the invention is indicated at 20.The container includes a top 22, a bottom 24, and four sidewallsdesignated 26, 28, 30 and 32. The opposed sidewalls 26 and 28 each havescore or fold lines 34 and 36 extending perpendicularly to thelongitudinal extend of the container 20 and spaced from the ends of thesidewalls a distance substantially equal to one-half the width of theother two opposed walls 30 and 32. The various score or fold linesdescribed herein can be formed by small grooves located in theappropriate surface of the wall to facilitate bending or folding of thewall along the groove.

Each of the other two opposed sidewalls 30 and 32 also has transversescore or fold lines 38 and 40 extending perpendicularly to thelongitudinal extend of the container and spaced from the ends of thesidewalls a distance equal to the spacing of the score lines 34 and 36,namely substantially one-half the width of the sidewalls 30 and 32. Eachof the sidewalls 30 and 32 further has four diagonal fold or score lines42, 44, 46, and 48 which extend from the corners of the walls 30 and 32to central points 50 and 52 on the lines 38 and 40. In addition, thesidewalls 30 and 32 have longitudinal, central score or fold lines 54which extend between the central points 50 and 52 on the score lines 38and 40.

The specific arrangement of the score or fold lines on the sidewalls26-32 enables the container 20 to be collapsed substantially fully, asshown in FIG. 3, as the contents are dispensed. This is accomplishedessentially by squeezing the sidewalls 26 and 28 toward one another.Virtually all of the contents of the container 20 thereby are removed.In addition, the bottom wall 24 remains flat and perpendicular to thelongitudinal extent of the container 20 during all degrees of collapseof the container. The container thereby will remain supported in anupright position by the bottom wall 24 at all times. This is particularadvantage when the container is used on a table for the purpose ofdispensing foods.

A spout member 56 preferably is integral with the top wall 22. As shownparticularly in FIGS. 4-7, the spout member is relatively flat, beingwide in a direction between the sidewalls 30 and 32 and narrow or thinin a direction between sidewalls 26 and 28. The spout member 56 includesa spout portion or section 58, a cap portion or section 60, and a webportion or section 62 therebetween, and integral therewith. The internaldimensions and shape of the cap section 60 are designed to enable thecap section to fit over and nest with the nozzle section 58 when the websection 62 is removed. To remove the section 62, the spout member 56 issimply cut by household scissors, for example, along a line 64 where theweb section 62 meets with the spout section 58 and along a line 66 wherethe web section 62 generally meets with the cap section 60. Because thespout member 56 is flat, the web section 62 is relatively easy to removeby so cutting.

When the web section 62 is removed, a spout 68 is formed for dispensingthe contents of the container 20 and a removable cap 70 is likewiseformed fitting by a friction fit with the spout 68. With thisarrangement, the cap and spout are formed in one piece without anyfurther manufacturing operations. Further, there is no possibility ofthe cap being lost between the producer and the consumer.

An integral attachment loop or strap 72 can be molded with the spoutmember 56 and integrally connected to the spout section 58 and the capsection 60. Subsequently, the at tachment loop will always keep the capand spout together.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a slightly modified spout similar to thespout member 56. In this instance, the spout member includes a spoutsection 74, a cap section 76, and a narrow web section 78. The websection 78 in this instance can be severed with a single cut, ratherthan be completely removed, to form a spout 80 and a cap 82. A loweredge portion 84 of the cap 82, constituting all or at least asubstantial part of the web section 78, folds along the inner surface ofthe cap 82 when assembled with the spout 80 and facilitates sealing andholding the cap in place.

As shown in FIGS. and 11, a modified container 86 is similar in manyrespects to the container of FIGS. l-3 but has a top 88 made in twohalves 90 and 92 each with a spout member half 94 and 96. The container86 is molded in the position shown so that it can be injection molded ina two-part mold. After the container 86 is molded, it can be filledthrough the open top, with the two halves 90 and 92 then heat sealed tothe vertical walls of the container and with the edges of the spoutmember halves 94 and 96 also heat sealed. The filled and heat sealedcontainer is shown in FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a container 98 embodying the invention foldsand collapses similarly to the container of FIGS. 13 but is specificallydesigned to be molded by an injection process. The body of the containerin this instance has a bottom 100 which is integrally hinged at one edgeto a sidewall of the container and is molded in the open position shown.After molding, the container is inverted and filled, with the bottom 100then heat sealed to the edges of the sidewalls.

An integral spout member 102 is also a flat configuration and has asolid tip portion 104 which is designed to be cut to expose a slot forfacilitating spreading of the contents. In this instance, a cap 106 ismolded simultaneously with the spout and is connected by a strap or loop108 which extends transversely to the spout member and is molded at theparting line of the mold halves. With this structural arrangement of thecontainer, spout, cap, and strap, the entire assembly can be molded by asingle-injection-molding step. After the container is filled, the heatsealing can also take place in a single step.

Various modifications of the above-described embodiments of theinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to beunderstood that such modifications can be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention, if they are within the spirit and tenor ofthe accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. A single-use dispensing container made in one piece and comprising abody of rectangular cross section, and including a flat bottom, a top,and four sides, two opposite sides each having two score lines extendingperpendicular to the longitudinal extend of said body and spaced fromthe ends of said two sides each having two score lines extendingperpendicular to the longitudinal extend of said body and spaced fromthe ends of said other two sides a distance substantially equal toonehalf the width of said other two sides, said other two sides eachfurther having four diagonal score lines extending from the comers topoints centrally of the adjacent perpendicular score lines of said othertwo sides, said other two sides each further having an additional,longitudinally extending central score line between the points ofintersection of the diagonal score lines with the perpendicular scorelines of said other two sides, whereby said body can be collapsedsubstantially fully by collapsing inwardly said other two sides withsaid bottom remaining flat to support said container in all degrees ofcollapse, said top having a spout extending upwardly therefrom.

2. A container according to claim 1 characterized further by said spoutbeing wide in one direction between two of the sides and thin in theother direction between the other two sides.

3. A container according to claim 1 characterized by a cap cooperatingwith said spout and an attachment loop integrally connected between saidcap and said spout.

4. A container according to claim 1 characterized further by said spoutincluding a spout section, a cap section, and a web integral with theentire upper edge of said spout section and the entire lower edge ofsaid cap section, said cap section being designed to nest with saidspout section when said web is severed.

5. A container according to claim 4 characterized by an attachment loopintegrally connected between said cap section and said spout section.

6. A container according to claim 1 characterized by said top beingmolded in two top halves attached to opposite sides of said containerand said spout is molded in two halves each integrally connected to anedge portion of one of said top halves.

7. A container according to claim 1 characterized by said containerbeing made by injection molding and said bottom being integrallyattached to one ofsaid sides.

8. A container according to claim 7 characterized by said sp'out havinga strap extending transversely therefrom and integrally connectedthereto and a cap integrally connected to the outer end of said strap.

9. A single-use, disposable, dispensing container comprising a body ofgenerally rectangular cross section, and including a flat bottom, a top,and four sides, each of two opposite sides having two score linesextending perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of said body andspaced near the ends of said two sides, said two opposite sides beingflat between said score lines, each of the other two sides having twoscore lines extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of saidbody and spaced from the ends of said other two sides a distancesubstantially equal to the spacing of the first score lines from theends of said two opposite sides, each of said other sides further havingfour diagonal score lines, two extending from comers formed by saidbottom and said two opposite sides to a point centrally of the adjacentperpendicular score line of said other two sides, and two extending fromcorners formed by said top and said two opposite sides to a pointcentrally of the adjacent perpendicular score line of said other twosides, each of said other two sides further having an additional,longitudinally extending central score line connected between the pointsof intersection of the diagonal score lines with the perpendicular scorelines of said other two sides, whereby said body can be collapsed bypushing inwardly said two opposite sides while remaining generallyparallel with one another, and with said bottom remaining flat tosupport said container, said top having a spout extending upwardlytherefrom, and a cap for closing off said spout.

10. A container according to claim 9 characterized by an integralattachment loop connected between said cap and said spout.

11. A container according to claim 9 characterized by said spoutcomprising a main spout section, said cap comprising a main cap sectionintegral with said spout section and having an internal size and shapeto fit with said spout section, and web means integral with said spoutsection and said cap sec tion to maintain them in spaced, continuousrelationship until said web means is severed prior to dispensing thecontents of the container to enable said cap section to fit on saidspout section to serve as said cap.

1. A single-use dispensing container made in one piece and comprising a body of rectangular cross section, and including a flat bottom, a top, and four sides, two opposite sides each having two score lines extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extend of said body and spaced from the ends of said two sides each having two score lines extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extend of said body and spaced from the ends of said other two sides a distance substantially equal to one-half the width of said other two sides, said other two sides each further having four diagonal score lines extending from the corners to points centrally of the adjacent perpendicular score lines of said other two sides, said other two sides each further having an additional, longitudinally extending central score line between the points of intersection of the diagonal score lines with the perpendicular score lines of said other two sides, whereby said body can be collapsed substantially fully by collapsing inwardly said other two sides with said bottom remaining flat to support said container in all degrees of collapse, said top having a spout extending upwardly therefrom.
 2. A container according to claim 1 characterized further by said spout being wide in one direction between two of the sides and thin in the other direction between the other two sides.
 3. A container according to claim 1 characterized by a cap cooperating with said spout and an attachment loop integrally connected between said cap and said spout.
 4. A container according to claim 1 characterized further by said spout including a spout section, a cap section, and a web integral with the entire upper edge of said spout section and the entire lower edge of said cap section, said cap section being designed to nest with said spout section when said web is severed.
 5. A container according to claim 4 characterized by an attachment loop integrally connected between said cap section and said spout section.
 6. A container according to claim 1 characterized by said top being molded in two top halves attached to opposite sides of said container and said spout is molded in two halves each integrally connected to an edge portion of one of said top halves.
 7. A container according to claim 1 characterized by said container being made by injection molding and said bottom being integrally attached to one of said sides.
 8. A container according to claim 7 characterized by said spout having a strap extending transversely therefrom and integrally connected thereto and a cap integrally connected to the outer end of said strap.
 9. A single-use, disposable, dispensing container comprising a body of generally rectangular cross section, and including a flat bottom, a top, and four sides, each of two opposite sides having two score lines extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of said body and spaced near the ends of said two sides, said two opposite sides being flat between said score lines, each of the other two sides having two score lines extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of said body and spaced from the ends of said other two sides a distance substantially equal to the spacing of the first score lines from the ends of said two opposite sides, each of said other sides further having four diagonal score lines, two extending from corners formed by said bottom and said two opposite sides to a point centrally of the adjacent perpendicular score line of said other two sides, and two extending from corners formed by said top and said two opposite sides to a point centrally of the adjacent perpendicular score line of said other two sides, each of said other two sides further having an additional, longitudinally extending central score line connected between the points of intersection of the diagonal score lines with the perpendicular score lines of said other two sides, whereby said body can be collapsed by pushing inwardly said two opposite sides while remaining generally parallel with one another, and with said bottom remaining flat to support said container, said top having a spout extending upwardly therefrom, and a cap for closing off said spout.
 10. A container according to claim 9 characterized by an integral attachment loop connected between said cap and said spout.
 11. A container according to claim 9 characterized by said spout comprising a main spout section, said cap comprising a main cap section integral with said spout section and having an internal size and shape to fit with said spout section, and web means integral with said spout section and said cap section to maintain them in spaced, continuous relationship until said web means is severed prior to dispensing the contents of the container to enable said cap section to fit on said spout section to serve as said cap. 